(Update: Rafa Marquez has been suspended for three games. More on that later)

The shock meter would register in the red if Major League Soccer’s disciplinary committee doesn’t announce fines and suspensions today.

A couple of nervous San Jose Earthquake players may be affected. And based on the past few weeks there could easily be a surprise that pops out of the disciplinary decision box. Few saw the Shalrie Joseph one-game benching coming two weeks ago, for instance.

But, of course, we’re talking about this and waiting around like anxious family members in the maternity ward holding pen because of one name: Red Bulls midfielder Rafael Marquez.

I asked league spokesman Will Kuhns yesterday via email about the disciplinary committee’s timing on these matters. Essentially, there is no policy on when announcements will be made each week.

Generally, Kuhns replied in an email, “they take as much time as they feel they need to get it right.”

He did say the five-member committee (identities remain undisclosed, but it includes two former players and a former coach) would put a rush on the process if any individuals were facing a mid-week match.

All that said, waiting any longer does no one any good.

And generally speaking, MLS would probably do well to set a policy on when these announcements are handed down. Otherwise, me and my kind spend a week talking and guessing on it – keeping any naughtiness in the news cycles that much longer.